Amlodipine caused irregular heart beats

[carer999]

Recently prescribed Amlodipine 10mg after being told I need one stent after angiogram. I don't have high blood pressure and was told if I felt dizzy or faint to stop taking it as have moderate aortic stenosis.

6 hours after taking the second pill I had palpitations, irregular heart beats and my blood pressure dropped to 99/57. The next day felt terrible but slowly improved with blood pressure returning to normal.

I understand it's meant to lower BP. Every time I see a doctor my BP is up but ok at home. The unexpected reaction of irregular heartbeat for the rest of the day was scary. Anyone else had this reaction.

Haven't taken any more.

[Survivor1952]

Palpitations are a known side effect and normally clear up quite quickly. If they are persisting you need to talk to your doctor. You should NOT stop taking any medicine without medical advice, it can be fatal when you have heart issues.

[Happyrosie]

I assume you have a monitor at home. Supposing you’ve a longish wait until you manage to get an appointment with the doc, you’ve time to take your own measurements and present the doc with the readings.

I suggest you take the reading at the same time each day (approx) halfway between meals and a few hours after you take your tablet. Sit down for ten minutes with the cuff on. Take a measurement after breathing slowly three times and no talking. Do two more measurements at a few minute intervals and if the first one is considerably higher throw it away.

This evidence will help the doc.

[Noodlesalad in reply to Happyrosie]

I was about to reply the same.

[bee_bear]

Amlodipine didn't agree with me at all. I initially started with palpitations coming and going. Then I started to get this really weird symptom of internal shakes. Never even knew that sort of thing existed, it was so unsettling! Best thing I did was speak to the GP about it all and they didn't hesitate to start me on a new BP med.

That one didn't work for me either and now I'm on my 3rd type of BP med and it's working a treat, with no horrendous side effects.

Just keep talking to your GP. I wld do the 8am call in and request a telephone appt. That meant I was dealt with within a few days rather than a few wks.

Good luck and I hope you get it all sorted asap.

[Noodlesalad in reply to bee_bear]

That's so strange I was contemplating asking the question about internal shakes as I have had this weird sensation since my Ramapril was doubled and to be taken twice a day. I'll ask for a telephone appointment this week.Thank you for sharing your experience it's answered my question.

[polenta in reply to Noodlesalad]

I just had my valsartin increased after 9 years and stated getting internal shakes after about a week of the increase. It seems to be subsiding the longer I am taking the increased dose, but it was quite concerning at 1st. If you look at the side effects of some of these heart drugs, a lot of them can cause anxiety which is what I think the internal shakes are and they can cause irregular heart beats.

[GeoffM]

I have just gone onto the same drug as been on Ramopril for 3 years. Doctor told me to also keep taking Ramopril too. BP has come down to around 135 at the high end after one week of taking.The problem is that we are all different biologically so there is no quick answer. However there are many bp drugs out there so as others have said do see your doctor. I had a stroke on 10th Sept and 3 subsequent TIAs and also had atrial fibrillation in Aug so do need to watch my bp alongside keeping my blood thinned. Do come back to the forum to tell us how you get on with the doctors.

[MountainGoat52]

I would definitely get in contact with your GP about this. When I was prescribed Amlodipine I had multiple issues, both physical and mental. A change of medication solved all the problems for me.

With regards to your BP being raised when you go to the surgery, you obviously suffer from clinical hypertension (white coat syndrome) like I do. My GP accepts that I now take all my BP readings at home and I am no longer asked to go into the surgery to get checked. There's nothing that can be done about this, it just happens. Bizarrely I don't get the same effect when I go to the dentist.

[cappachina]

I had major problems with Amlodipine and had to come off it after 10 days

[carer999]

Thanks for all your replies. I will make appointment with GP as I feel I don't need to lower my BP. Since angiogram I'm getting more chest pains on exercise. I will ask GP if I can have GTN spray in case it's angia as I see amlodipine is supposed to help with that.

[PecanSandie]

I had that reaction when I stopped Amlodipine. I think that it takes a while for the body to get used to new substances or the lack of old substances. I believe 10 MG is the highest dose of Amlodipine you can take daily - I wonder why you were started on the maximum dose rather than start with a lower amount and gradually increase to make it easier for you to adjust.

[Barbaraheart]

Yes I was told to double up my amlodipine from 5mg to 10 mg and I felt like I was having a heart attack….I reverted back to my one 5mg a day and looking to try and speak to my doctor regarding this scary moment

[punitjain123]

Did the palpitations got Cleared?